Game Changing Livestock

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Today let's talk about livestock, fish or invert, that you have added to your reef that ended up being a game changer for the overall health of your reef tank! I recently added in a sleeper goby and I feel like with his sand sifting abilities that he will be one for me! What about you?

What fish or invert have you added that you would consider to be a game changer to the overall health of your reef? Be specific!


image via @madweazl

 

[MohrReefs]

Got a diamond goby, never seen an ounce of dirt or filth on my sand bed.
Got a Starry Blenny and I never have to clean my back glass now.
They are mortal enemies as well in my tank. Quite hilarious.

On the other end of the spectrum, I got a Target Mandarin and had to buy a copepod farm to keep it alive as well as train it to eat frozen.

 

[ThatPhillyReefer]

I added a Sailfin and Foxface and all my algae was gone. I am always seeing them both eating algae off of my rocks and frag plugs up to off of my powerhead. It is definitely a game changer adding a herbivore fish.

 

[design.maddie]

Toadstool coral, tan on tan on tan coloration. It was the first coral I kept alive. It was a big step, HUGE step in the direction of reef keeping. I am now only keeping SPS and LPS, but sure do think back to those days.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Yesterday, I bought an elegance coral. It was a steal at only $100 on sale, so I got it. However, today, I am looking into a rescaping, because I didn’t realize how large it was until now, in my small tank.
Also yesterday, I got a pistol shrimp. Man, those things love to dig and be messy!

 

[Privateye]

Stomatella snails if you spot one on the glass at a LFS.

Money cowries for a purchased snail!

 

[Reefs and Geeks]

An abundance of astrea snails for me. For many years I had no CUC due to my questionable fish selection. Then I added another tank to the system and realized I could keep snails in that tank. Once I added them, the tank was spotless 24/7! virtually no algae ever. I am not a firm believer in a strong CUC for sure.

 

[Sharkbait19]

An abundance of astrea snails for me. For many years I had no CUC due to my questionable fish selection. Then I added another tank to the system and realized I could keep snails in that tank. Once I added them, the tank was spotless 24/7! virtually no algae ever. I am not a firm believer in a strong CUC for sure.

What I learned: I need more astrea snails!

 

[Sharkbait19]

Stomatella snails if you spot one on the glass at a LFS.

Money cowries for a purchased snail!

I found a stomatella once as a hitchhiker on a coral. It was really neat! I decided to throw it into the tank. I never saw it again.

 

[Big C]

Urchin. Good natural way to clear my ulva outbreak.

Pre Urchin

Post

Thanks!

 

[WirelessMike]

Urchin. Good natural way to clear my ulva outbreak.

Pre Urchin

Post

Thanks!

The Viking helmet is legit! Was your urchin just carrying it around the tank?

 

[Big C]

The Viking helmet is legit! Was your urchin just carrying it around the tank?

Yea, have two others that carrying around some construction helmets my kids love them! But the urchins are quickly outgrowing after eating all the ulva!

Got tired of them picking up frags. Helmets have helped a bit (and other stuff like snails).

 

[MONTANTK]

Added a Kupang Damsel to take care of some flatworms. I still have flatworms but the population remains very low

 

[Kfactor]

Turbo snails

 

[Billldg]

@revhtree, what type of sand are you using? I would love to add a Goby, but I am not sure if Special Grade sand will be to rough for it.

 

[WirelessMike]

Yea, have two others that carrying around some construction helmets my kids love them! But the urchins are quickly outgrowing after eating all the ulva!

Got tired of them picking up frags. Helmets have helped a bit (and other stuff like snails).

That’s awesome! Now I want one. With a Viking helmet. Lol

 

[Marc2952]

Thinking of getting one but i dont know how it will do with 2 flame hawks

 

[WirelessMike]

Yea, have two others that carrying around some construction helmets my kids love them! But the urchins are quickly outgrowing after eating all the ulva!

Got tired of them picking up frags. Helmets have helped a bit (and other stuff like snails).

Where did you get the helmets and what are they made out of? That’s a really cool idea.

 

[Mr Hughes]

@revhtree, what type of sand are you using? I would love to add a Goby, but I am not sure if Special Grade sand will be to rough for it.

I had special grade in my last tank and there were no problems with the diamond watchman whatsoever.

 

[lavoisier]

A Copperband when aptasia threatened to overwhelm the tank. A Foxface when bubble algae became a problem.